^ \ \ \ \ \ j ! < W / ^

JANUARY, 1991

HEAT IS GOD'SFAITHFULNESS!

84 Years Ago — Model T Fords, movieprojectors, Ty Cobb . . . and a newmagazine.

75 Years Ago — Woodrow Wilson, JohnD. Rockefeller, Norman Rockwell . . .and a magazine gets a fresh start, inLouisville.

NEWS AND NOTESIMPORTANT DATES FOR 1991 to

Mark in Your Calendars:Feb. 15-16, Forum on Issues in Bible

Prophecy. See below.Feb. 22-23, 17th Annual Tell City-

Lilly Dale Workshop, at Lilly Dalethis year. See back cover.

March 22-23, "Encouragement Weekend" sponsored by the School ofBiblical Studies, Louisville. Moredetails next month.

April 20, annual Ladies' InspirationDay, this year at Cramer Church,Lexington. Theme: "The Be-Atti-tudes, God's Formula for I lappiness."

Aug. 5-8, 44th Louisville ChristianFellowship Week.

Nov. 18-21 (or 11-14?), 16th AnnualCentral Louisiana Christian Fellowship, in Glenmora.We will publish more information

about these events as we receive it. . .and other events too, such as campschedules. We appreciate those churches which send us information, especially those who ask a member to serve as"reporter" and send us every 2 - 3months the most important goings-on inyour congregation.

Linton Church of Christ, IndianaDuring 1990, seven precious souls

accepted Christ and were baptized intoHim. The Lord also added to ournumber 5 dear ones who responded tomove their membership from othercongregations to the Linton Church ofChrist. There have also been 10 otherresponses for reded ication and prayerfor a closer walk with the Lord.

At the Pleasant Grove Church ofChrist, 7 young people have acceptedChrist in the past few weeks.

Louisville Thanksgiving Day MeetingThis annual meeting for the greater

Louisville area was attended by around500 people. Orell Overman from thePleasant Grove Church spoke and thePortland Christian High School chorussang several numbers. An offering of$5,155 was given, most of it for PCSand the rest for the School of BiblicalStudies.

Words of Life MinistryEarl Mullins, T.Y. Clark & Cleo Rus

sell spent a few weeks in the southernPhilippines in late Nov. & early Dec.in order to help the Mullinses getestablished. (Ragena Mullins will goin Jan.) The Mullinses' address willbe P.O. Box 212, Cagayan de Oro9000, Philippines. Bro. Earl will holdteaching conferences with preachers in5 locations during Feb., Lord willing.

Forum on ProphecyAn open forum on pre-millennialism

6 a-millennialism will be held Feb.15-16 in New Albany, Ind. at theScribner Middle School, 910 VincennesRd., comer Cherry Street.

The forum's purpose is to presentdiffering prophetic views in an atmosphere of brotherly love, to clarifymisunderstandings and promote studyo f God 's Word . Themes inc ludeChrist's 2nd coming & related events;God's kingdom; promises made to Israel; the throne of David. Presenting thepre-mil. view will be Paul Kitzmiller,Vernon Lawyer, George Marsh, is: EarlMullins Jr. Presenting the a-mil. viewwill be 4 brothers from conservativeChurches of Christ.

Meeting times will be 7:00 Fri. nitc,plus 9-12 & 2-5 on Sat.

—Nick Marsh, New Albany

Antioch Christian Camp, Frankfort, KYA meeting of church leaders was

held Dec. 8 at the camp. It was todraw up plans for a Camp Associationand to select camp directors for summer1991. The resident supervisor is JoeStrunk, minister of Antioch Church ofChrist. For more info write him at355 Bark Branch Rd., Frankfort 40601.

During 1990, the 4 weeks of campwere attended by 114 campers. For thefirst time a music week was held, directed by John Fulda. The camp iscommitted to reaching out even more.

Southeast La. Christian FellowshipWord recently came re: the 1st

S.E. Christian Fellowship, planned forJan. 14-17. Night sessions were at theAmite Church of Christ, day sessionsat Shiloh. Speakers included brothersC. Istre, Clark, Broussard, Robinson,Ramsey, Coon, Naugle, B. McRey-nolds, Pound, Overman & Coultas, onvarious topics related to the theme,"Contending for the Faith."

THE WORD AND WORK'Declare the whole counsel of God*

The Word andunder the auspice^Subscription:subscription.Louisville, KY 40212

Alex V. Wilson, EditorWork (USPS 691-460) is published monthly except December

of the Portland Ave. Church of Christ, Inc., Louisville, Ky.per year; bundles of 10 or more to one address = $5.50 per

Addfess correspondence to Word and Work, 2518 Portland Avenue,Second class postage paid at Louisville, Ky.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Word and Work, 2518 Portland Ave.,Louisville, KY 40:512.

Vol. LXXXV JANUARY, 1991 No. 1

In This Issue

Thene: GREAT IS GOD'S FAITHFULNESS!

Editorial: 75 Years . . . and 84 years! — Alex V. WilsonOur 1st Editor: Stanford Chambers, Triple Threat -A Brief H story of Word and Work — Ernest E. Lyon

and Purposes — R. H. Boll -Our AimsARTICLES BY PAST EDITORS - STILL RELEVANT!

Tolerance,

237

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'Restoration a Must"—for Individuals and Churches— S t a n f o r d C h a m b e r s 1 2

Intolerance, and Other Christians— S t a n f o r d C h a m b e r s 1 4

F o u r I n d i s p u t a b l e T h i n g s - R . H . B o l l 1 6U n f u l f i l l e c P r o p h e c y — E . L . J o r g e n s o n 2 0A s h a m e d ) f J e s u s — J . R . C l a r k 2 3Do You Kaow You're Saved? — Gordon R. Linscott - 25

Sp i r i tua l p la teaus —W. Rober t He id - - - - - - 28V O I C E S F R O M T H E F I E L D S 3 0N E W S A N D i t f O T E S I n s i d e f r o n t c o v e r

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THEME:

Great Is God's Faithfulness!75 Years... in fact, 84 Years!

Alex V. WilsonIt was 1908. Teddy Roosevelt was president. Model T Fords

began rolling off the assembly line, and Thomas Edison won a legaldispute over the rights to the moving picture projector. The DetroitTigers won the American League pennant, sparked by a young outfielder named Ty Cobb. AND, down in New Orleans, a few disciplesof the Lord Jesus began publishing a Christian magazine named TheChristian Word and Work. Its motto was "Work and Worship." Aneditorial stated, "One of the leading ideas in establishing Word andWork was to locate isolated congregations and put them to work, bytelling them how well others are doing who are similarly situated."The subscription price was $1.00 a year, and for some months aspecial offer was made-3 months for only 10^. (By 1914 the pricedropped to 50^ per year, 5^ per copy!)

"As it was in the Beginning"Some interesting items are found in the few issues I have seen

from the 1908-1915 era. Regular columns at that time included a"department of first principles," "department of work and worship,""department of prophecy," one entitled "for winners and watchers ofsouls," a current events section, reports from the mission field, andcomments on Sunday school lessons. There was also a monthly column, "Our Boys and Girls," which was "edited by Cousin Ellen."

An article from 1913 caught my attention. It is entitled, "Immorality Laid to Women's Garb." It describes how a state legislator from Cincinnati, alarmed by "a great wave of immorality nowsweeping over the country," introduced a bill asking the governor toappoint a commission to "prescribe the fashions to be worn by womenin the state of Ohio." One wonders what resulted.

But it is the advertisements which perhaps strike you the most.You could buy a teachers' reference Bible with concordance, Bibledictionary and other helps for $1.75. And those early issues containedads not only for religious supplies and books but also for a coaldealer, a pharmacy, an insurance agency, a clothing store, typewriters,and "self-sharpening secret-spring shears—always sharp." At the bottom of the table of contents page is another ad: "HOSIERY—Darn-proof, Guaranteed; 12 pairs, $1.00. Intense Black, Tan or assorted.Gents or Ladies ..." from a hosiery mill in North Carolina. Anotherpage is headed, "Our advertisers are strictly reliable men. You maydeal with them knowing that you will receive a square deal." Aneditorial says some readers dislike having ads in the magazine, to

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which the reply is given that they might not be needed if readerswould pay for their subscriptions on time and would help increase thejournal's circulation. (In some ways, conditions haven't changedmuch.)

Moving North — 75 Years AgoIt was 1916. President Wilson and the whole country were fear

ful about the war in Europe. Wilson also advocated women's suffrage, but even1 that year—before women got to vote—Jeanette Rankinwas elected as the first woman to the U.S. Congress. That was alsothe year that Einstein developed the theory of relativity, Rockefeller'spersonal wealth passed one billion dollars, and a young painter namedNorman Rockwell for the first time had a drawing appear on a magazine cover.

AND, in New Orleans, editor Stanford Chambers proposed thatWord and Work magazine be edited by R. H. Boll and published inLouisville. The offer was accepted, and a new era began. ErnestLyon's article in this issue will tell you more.

This mont 1 we are looking back to our magazine's roots and beginnings. We are pausing to thank our Lord. Truly, "through manydangers, toils and snares we have already come; Tis grace hasbrought us safe thus far, and grace will lead us home." Brother Bollused to say of Word and Work that it was always "dying, and behold-it lives!" (2 Gor. 6:9)

Some of our recent subscribers, who perhaps have never met aW & W editor or writer and to whom their names are meaningless, mayfind parts of this issue dull. Don't lay it aside, however, for there isgood spiritual I nourishment in the teaching articles. And believe itor not, you can benefit from the testimony of those who served ourLord in the early years of this century. Meanwhile, for many of ourlongtime readers this may be the most enjoyable issue in a long time.

"O magnii'y the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together" (Psa. 34). And then, having looked back, let us look forwardin practical ways. If God has blessed you through Word and Workthen please pray for us, renew your subscription on time, encourageother folks to subscribe, order extra copies to lend or give away, andurge your church to order a bundle (ten or more copies sent to thesame address receive a discount: only $5.50/year per copy). God hasbeen faithful to us; we want to be faithful to Him.

Word and Work's 1st Editor:

STANFORD CHAMBERS, TRIPLE THREATAlex V. Wilson

Part IIn the days before football became so specialized that each player

concentrated on offense alone, or defense, or kicking extra points andfield goals, etc. some backfield stars were called "triple threat" players.They were good at passing and running and kicking, all three, so when

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they got the ball the defenders never knew what they might do because of their multiple talents.

In serving Christ, Stanford Chambers was at least a triple threatto the hosts of wickedness. He was gifted by the Lord as an evangelist and church-planter, Bible teacher, counselor, editor and writer,song-leader, school administrator, and more besides. But he wasalways careful to give glory for his accomplishments to the Most High,and to realize that his own labors would be fruitless apart from "powerfrom on high." I remember one year when he gave the daily Bible expositions at the Louisville Fellowship Week. Each morning as hearose to walk to the pulpit he started leading the chorus, "I need Thee,Oh I need Thee! Every hour I need Thee..." He was depending onthe Lord for ability to teach, not on his own wisdom or study ormany years of experience.

Most of the following facts are taken from a sketchy autobiographical article he wrote in the Aug.-Sept. 1945 issue of Truth Advance, a magazine he edited for a long time, and from a series ofarticles in The Exhorter in 1964-65. He was born (1876) in Missouri,but was brought up in Indiana, adopted by Louisiana, and spent mostof his life in Kentucky. Both of his parents and all his grandparentswere "adherents to the [Restoration Movement! plea that all Christians should be Christians only"—proponents of every believer's rightto study Scripture for himself, teach it as he understood it, and practice "New Testament simplicity in public worship and in daily living,observing the Lord's Day as indeed His day."

An Unusual Call to PreachHe became a minister of the Gospel due to God's "unmistakable

answer to long continued and at last desperate praying for one mostdearly beloved," his father. After interceding for his father's conversion for a long time, a new thought unexpectedly came to him whileat prayer one day. "Lord, if you will help me or someone else dosomething or say something to bring Pa to Christ, I'll preach theGospel." The next morning during the meeting at "Old Shiloh"Church the prayer was answered! Only God knew of the vow oreven of the prayer that had been made so fervently, but there couldbe no turning back after such an obvious call. Like Paul, StanfordChambers responded, "Woe is me if I preach not the Gospel." LikeChrist, he also said, To do so "is both meat and drink." He thrivedon it.

He preached his first sermon on April 16, 1898, while in StateNormal School in Terre Haute, Indiana. He was twenty-two yearsold. His second sermon was given at his home church, later knownas Berea, which then met in a schoolhouse near Sullivan, Indiana.During tie fall of that year he married Tacy Jane Blakeman. Foralmost seventy-one years she was a devoted wife, loving mother of theirsix children, and dedicated follower of the Christ she and her husbandloved so much.

The day after the wedding the new husband and wife went toTennessee to attend the Nashville Bible School. It had been startedseven years earlier by David Lipscomb and James A. Harding. Both

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of those men were outstanding Christian examples, leaders and Bibleteachers. Botjh also combined firm convictions with large doses offreedom. For example, Brother Harding had started a weeklymeeting during which any topic of interest could be discussed, andevery student or teacher could present his views openly without fear."On subjects of unusual controversy he invited speakers on differentsides of the iss ties so that students could learn every side of a question."Thus writes L. C. Sears in his biography of Harding, The Eyes ofJehovah. He continues,

Perfecl courtesy and high respect for the views of others wasalways true of the school under Harding and Lipscomb. On the"rebaptism" issue, which was threatening to divide the church,J. D. Tanl was invited to give a series of lectures opposing theviews of Harding and Lipscomb. [Stanford] Chambers relatesthat he \ras surprised to see Harding, after a lecture, put hisarm arour d Tant and walk with him to Harding's home for dinner.He learned to his astonishment and his great joy that "brethrencould be brethren though they differed."

Such Christian tolerance and love, and such openness of mind,left impressions on students that influenced the church for a generation or more. Dr. T. W. Brents, who differed radically fromE. C. Sewell on the appointment of elders, was invited to present his views and Sewell to present his. After their discussionLipscomb commented, "Now, young people, we have done ourbest to help you. You will have to study your Bibles and makeup your c wn minds."

Teach srs did not dictate to the students what they must believeor teach. They held the principle: "I'm not right; you're not right;but the Bible is right." They presented from the Scriptures thetruth, as they understood it, and then left students to reach theirown conclusions on the basis of their own study. It was a highrespect b )th for the authority of the Scriptures and for the intel-ligance and the integrity of each man's mind and conscience,(pp. 145-7)

Establishing New ChurchesDue to lack of finances, the Chamberses remained at the school

only one year; but that experience made an indelible impression onthem. He later wrote, "In the Nashville Bible College and throughJ. A. Harding, we began to be impelled to pray for open doors ofopportunity to give out what we with unspeakable joy had received."Soon after arriving back home near Sullivan, Indiana, he and hisfriend Edward Neal were invited to hold gospel meetings at theMilan school house on the banks of the Wabash River. That riverserved as their first baptistry, as folks came to Christ through theirpreaching. r. 'his was followed by other meetings during that summer

at least nine different locations. That was a heavyledule for a young man whose only experience had beenBible school plus preaching two times before enrolling!

True, both Ed and Charles Neal helped out with the preaching duringsome of tho.e meetings; yet he alone held a three-weeks' series of

which twenty persons were converted and some others5

of 1899, inpreaching scone year at

meetings in

restored to the Lord. And his service during that first year of preaching was most impressive: "115 sermons, 27 baptisms, a number ofrestorations, received in all $37.92. It was a most joyful year."

According to his article in The Exhorter, he preached 33 timesduring his second year, and 48 times during his third—the only otheryears for which he recorded statisics for us. I don't know if the 115sermons claimed for his first year was a typographical error or not.Whatever the case, he adds matter-of-factly, T was preaching by nightand teaching school by day." He was a fulltime public school teacherand evangelist at the same time from 1899-1907. Maybe that was dueto financial needs; even back then more than $37.92 was needed tosupport a family.

Many small towns sprang up in that part of the country duringthose years, as coal mines boomed. Brother Chambers and his coworkers planted new churches in a number of those towns—I could notdiscover how many. Here are only two examples of his churchplantingministry.

In the summer of 1904 he held daily gospel meetings for threeweeks at the Atlas schoolhouse. As a result thirty-five people wereeither baptized or restored to Christ. They were eager to have achurch house, and within a few months had bought a lot and constructed a building. Another series of evangelistic meetings was soonheld, adding twenty-two more members.

In May 1905 a tent was set up in north Linton, and gospel meetings were held for five weeks. On the opening night the members ofthe Atlas church came riding into town on hay wagons, carriages, andbuggies, "singing the gospel all the way as they came. It 'set thingson fire.' The town took notice. The tent was soon filled to overflowing. It was estimated that a few nights we preached to a thousandpeople." Brother Chambers and W. J. Brown did the preaching, whichresulted in "75 additions." After resting a month, more meetings wereheld, resulting in more conversions and the establishment of a congregation that continues to this day.

Growing in FaithBut Stanford Chambers was not only preaching and teaching; he

himself was learning to trust God more and more. The Bible taughthim to do that, and James A. Harding had always emphasized andexemplified it too. Brother Chambers learned very well the lessonof God's faithfulness. He wrote about the time a Christian man hadendorsed him at the bank for a loan of $100. "I was not insolvent, butmy goods were not immediately convertible into cash." Just one daybefore the note at the bank was due, he still had no cash on hand.Nobody but the Lord knew this fact, but that night after prayermeeting another Christian brother said, "Brother Chambers, the Lordso greatly prospered me on my last job that I want to share a littleof it with you for the Lord's sake." He put a check into his hand...for exactly $100.

Having a generous God made him generous. Years later, at Portland Ave. Church in Louisville an unknown but obviously poor mancame to the meeting one night. It was mid-winter and bitter cold,

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and he had no overcoat. He asked for help, and though we dontknow what other help Brother Chambers gave him, we do know thatlater that night the man left with an overcoat and Brother Chamberswent home without one. It's easy to "trust God" for someone else'sneeds; he trus:ed Him for his own.

So far we have covered only the first 32 of Brother Chambers'93 years (187(1-1907). During that time he was born again, called topreach, marrie d a dedicated disciple, studied in Bible School, taughtin public school for eleven years (three of them before going to Nashville), and preached the Gospel for eight years establishing a numberof churches. Other great things lay ahead as he left Indiana to gosouth.

(To be concluded next month)* * * * *

A Brief History of WORD AND WORKErnest E. Lyon

Seventy-i ve years ago this month The Word and Work magazinemoved from New Orleans to Louisville and R. H. Boll became theeditor-and-chief with E. L. Jorgenson as publisher. This issue, therefore, marks tl c seventy-fifth anniversary of the magazine as publishedin tiiis city. I wish every reader had the privilege, as I have, ofowning a boind copy of the 1916 edition. Be sure to read in thisissue the wor derful statement of aims and purposes set forth by Bro.Boll at that time, aims and purposes that are still being carried out.However, since the magazine had an earlier beginning, we will goback now to the very start of the paper.

In Marcl l, 1908, a new paper was born in New Orleans with thetitle of The Christian Word and Work. In March, 1968, StanfordChambers wi ote of that occasion and stated that "the prime mover andmanaging ed tor was D. L. Watson, M.D., an elder of the Seventh andCamp Street i church." I am fortunate in possessing two of the 1908issues of the magazine and several copies from 1912-1915 and I wouldnot want to \ ake away any credit due to Dr. Watson, but Bro. Chambers seems to me to have been the "prime mover" in the paper aswell as the nain editor throughout the stay in New Orleans (throughDecember, 1915). A number of others had a good part in the magazine helping the editor, who was a teacher in the Christian HighSchool of Njw Orleans, and for each of them we are thankful. Aninteresting part of the history in New Orleans is that after two yearsthe magazine became a weekly and continued that way for threeyears and then changed back to a monthly, which it has been eversince, with a change in recent years of combining the November andDecember into one, making eleven issues a year. In 1914 the namewas changed to the present one of simply Word and Work.

From the beginning, articles have clearly shown that this istruly a non sectarian magazine. Articles from many other sourceshave been picked up as they were valuable to the presentation ofJesus Christ and Him crucified and risen. Regular writers from othersections of tjhe country contributed to the magazine, which continued

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when Bro. Chambers decided that Louisville would be a much betterlocation to be a good influence for the spread of the gospel and thestrengthening of believers. For example, the January, 1916, issue, theone whose 75th anniversary we are celebrating, had articles by R. H.Boll, E. L. Jorgenson, Stanford Chambers (still living in New Orleansat that time), H. L. Olmstead, "Brother Barnabas," J.N. Gardner,W. J. Brown, David L. Cooper, and Don Carlos Janes. Included were"Lord's Day Lessons," with R. H. Boll writing the lessons. Thissection was also issued separately for Sunday schools to use. Eventually, as you know, that section became a separate publication and isstill used in many churches today for their Sunday school work.

In the February, 1916, issue, Stanford Chambers, H. L. Olmstead,and E. L. Jorgenson were listed as co-editors with Bro. Boll as editor-in-chief. That policy continued for some time but was eventuallydropped for the one name with which this magazine was associatedfor so many years, R. H. Boll, the prince of teachers for all whoknew and heard him.

As I mentioned earlier, though most articles in Word and Workwere written by members of the group called "Churches of Christ,"the idea was never imparted that only those belonging to such congregations were saved. Nor were articles by Christians from otherbackgrounds kept from its pages. For instance, during the first yearof Bro. Boll's editorship, he reprinted in W&W articles by well-known Bible teachers D. M. Panton, G. H. Pember and perhaps others.He also ran two articles from the Sunday School Times, withoutgiving authors' names. And in an article he himself wrote, entitled"About Books," he recommended books by J. M. Gray and R. A. Torrey(both connected with Moody Bible Institute), Charles Hodge, J. M.McGarvey, Hannah Whitall Smith, and Philip Mauro. Of all thosewhom I have mentioned in this paragraph, only McGarvey was fromthe "Restoration Movement." Bro. Boll was careful, however, to urgehis readers to be discerning. He ended the just-mentioned article bysaying, "Every book written by man—no matter who the man—comesunder the rule: 'Prove all things, hold fast that which is good.'"

I hope that all of our readers know that one policy has continuedfrom the beginning of the magazine—no editor or writer for thepaper gets a penny for his labors, all doing it out of a love for Christand for the spread of His Word.

Printers, Writers and Other HelpersI am not sure who printed Word and Work in New Orleans, but

I do know of at least three that have done the printing through theyears here in Louisville. The Pentecostal Publishing Company wasthe printer for several years. Then Don Carlos Janes established aprint shop, with Tona Covey as the beloved and efficient typesetter and(probably) printer. Some time later the Heid Printing Company became the printer and has continued to this day, publishing the paperwith loving concern. To the Heid family we owe a great deal ofthanks for their many contributions to this magazine through the years.

In addition to the magazine itself and the "Lord's Day Lessons,"Word and Work has published a great many tracts and several books,

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too numerous ti> name them all. Several of the tracts by Bro. Bollwere widely circulated and had a great deal of good influence. I amsorry that many of those have gone out of print and printing coststoday prevent tieir being reprinted. Occasionally an issue gives a listof those available today. They are still very useful.

I wish it vv ere possible to print a complete list of names of thosewho wrote a jood deal for the magazine. It would include manymissionaries, wiich reminds me that from the beginning it has alwaysbeen very miss on minded. The two churches that have supplied themost workers f >r the magazine (Portland Avenue by far the first, followed by Highland) still have missionaries in the field. The complete list of writers would include almost every well-known ministerin the group from which the editors have come and it is so largethat I am afraid I would miss some of the important names. I willlist several of tpem later who served as editors at one time or another.

What I said of the writers for Word and Work receiving no payis true also of numerous other people who have labored to get themagazine in the mail, keep the subscription list up-to-date, and themany other things without which no magazine could continue. Myown familiarity with such workers features the Lale sisters, Mildredand Edith, wh) are gradually retiring from the picture; they are niecesof Bro. Jorgen >on and long-time members at Highland. To them andto all the many others who have served like them should go ourheartfelt thanes. Louise Wells is the present office manager.

Mergers and EditorsWhen Word and Work moved to Louisville E. L. Jorgenson was

the publisher for a good many years. He was succeeded by J. R.Clark, who ah o joined with Bro. Jorgenson as co-editor when the Lordcalled Bro. Be ill home in 1956. The publisher is not always listed, soI will not try to continue that list. Stanford Chambers, who movedto Louisville in 1923, started another magazine in 1938, Truth Advance; it combined with Word and Work in March, 1957.

In Septer iber, 1962, Gordon Linscott became the editor-publisherwith E. L. Jo rgenson and J. R. Clark as associate editors. Bro. Linscott continued as editor through the November-December issue of1975. Willian Robert Heid became the missionary editor after theMissionary Messenger stopped being issued as a separate magazineand its material combined with Word and Work. (Victor Broadduslater re-started the Missionary Messenger after he opened the missionary office in Lexington.) Bro. Heid became editor of Word andWork in January 1976. Ten years later—June, 1986— Alex V. Wilsonbecame a co editor with Bro. Heid, and then became sole editor inMay, 1987, with the latter's homegoing. In his first editorial, Bro.Wilson reminisced about his predecessors:

Word and Work has a rich heritage. Think of its founder and firsteditor, Stanford Chambers. A stalwart defender of the faith and proclaimerof the Gospel. Then R. H. Boll, outstanding editor for forty years! A master-teacher of all the word of God, and especially of God's grace. Then co-editors E. L. Jorgenson and J. R. Clark. Faithful, loving, humble men, concerned to auild bridges and remove barriers among the people of God. ThenGordon Linscott, with his deep passion for our Lord and Savior Himself,and our njeed to know Him. Then W. Robert Heid, with his much-needed

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emphasis by life and teaching on Christian homes and solid family relationships.

EmphasesOne of the features of the magazine that I treasure very much isthe obituaries of so many people whom I knew and loved, including allof these editors except the present one, who is continuing the highstandard of the past. It is still a publication that you can lend or giveto anyone without any apology for its contents and with the realizationthat you are doing a good thing for them in doing that.

I hinted above at some of the major emphases of Word and Workthroughout its more than fourscore years. Bro. Wilson wrote aneditorial about "what specific facets of truth need to be given toppriority in this magazine," and gave thirteen such priorities: 1) theLord Most High, Himself, and thus His grace and our worship ofHim. 2) The Cross, basis of our salvation. 3) Holy character.4) Evangelism and world missions. 5) Christian education: fruitfulBible teaching. 6) Lessons from the past, lest we become unbalancedor faddish. 7) Hope for the future, found in Christ's return and otherprophetic teachings from Scripture. 8) Strength for the present, madepossible by the energizing, indwelling Holy Spirit. 9) Strong Christian families. 10) Unity among God's people. 11) Social issues:enlightenment, and encouragement to be salt and light in our rottensociety. 12) Practical training for Christian workers and churchleaders. 13) Revival—"God moving among us in ungrieved, un-quenched power."

Decades earlier E. L. Jorgenson had sounded out a loving warningrelated to this matter.

Among the many heresies, there is "the heresy of emphasis," wrongemphasis; and of this heresy, too many Christians of our kind have beenguilty. If we aspire to be "New Testament Christians," a people after thepattern of Paul and Peter, James and John, we must put the emphasis wherethey put it. Christ was central... Jesus Christ himself, the glorious risen,living Being who is the center of all that concerns Him—He is our mainconcern. It is quite possible, in fact easy, to become taken up with "movements" and subjects good as they may be, more than with Him, our onlyLord and Savior.My prayer is that Word and Work will continue its influence for

good until the Lord comes for His church. If He does not do thatbefore March, 1998, I hope that someone will write a history of thepaper on its 90th anniversary that is worthy of a truly fine paper inthe work of the Lord.

* * * * *

Aims and Purposes ofWORD AND WORK, 1916 (and 1991)

R. H. BollThe first thing we want to say about Word and Work is that it

goes out on a mission of peace and good will, for God's interests andnot man's. It is not designed to compete with any other publication;to build up or to defend any personal interests whatsoever, or to

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magnify man in any wise; but to the glory of God and for the trueblessing of its circle of readers. We trust that the merits of this magazine will be such as to make a place for it in Christian homes andeverywhere.' o o * * •

It is our chief aim to produce a clean magazine: free from objectionable controversy, from personalities, and bitter sayings; clean inprinciple, and clean in doctrine—in short such a journal as can bepassed out to friends with the assurance that it will in none of itsfeatures reflect discredit on that lofty Name by which we are called.I » • • o •

Another point of no less importance is that the magazine shall benon-sectarian, to the extent that God may grant us wisdom and graceto enable us tcf make it so. We intend that it shall hold up the standard of simple and non-sectarian Christianity. There is a sectarianismwithout: and a sectarian tendency inheres in the flesh of us all. Wehope to hold a good ground against the outspoken sectarianism; andto fight a good fight against the other sort which rises up unaware,subtly and insidiously from within.e o e o o

It behooves us well to be watchful. Those who have subscribedthemselves as simple Christians to stand by the word of God alone,and to repudiate all human authority in doctrine; who have set themselves to be si mply members of God's church, and subject to the LordJesus Christ— tiave taken high ground. And high ground has to bemaintained. Light burns at constant expenditure of fuel or power;but darkness < omes of itself. "The price of liberty is eternal vigilance;"for the bonda *e of creed creeps in upon us on noiseless feet.

There isoars, thinking

generation isstop at sometheir light byregain the ri

a constant adverse current, and if once we rest on ourwe have at last found the right channel we shall pres

ently wake ui> far adrift from our course. A great man said, "Everygeneration nesds a reformation." If that is correct it is because every

apt to drift, or else to stagnate, to depart wilfully, or tomark reached by their fathers, or to try to conserveshutting the lid down upon it. And then it is a fight to

ifeht principle and to go on again. We can have God'sfight only in < jonstant communion with him and his word. For neithercan sunlight De carried about in a box, but be had only in connectionwith the sun itself; nor can the living water be had except alwaysfresh from tie living Fountain. When we try to preserve it in cansand cisterns i t becomes scummy. And the people who use it stagnatealso. Having no heart to see for themselves what God says, theybecome chielly anxious to know what good brethren teach, and fearful only lest they might come to be considered unorthodox. And so,unwittingly 1 hey slip their necks under the yoke of human tyrannyand fall und( ir the bondage of a human creed, whether that be formalor informal, whether written or unwritten.

Withoutwe desirethis magazirie

sunat all wishing to accuse anyone of such failure as that,iply to make it known that it is one of the chief aims ofto work for the pure New Testament Christianity and

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the truth of the word of God. We shall be little concerned about "therepresentaive views of the brotherhood"-of any brotherhood; butvery greatly concerned as to God's word in all its utterances, andshall strive to draw always from the living Fount; and to guard againstthe encroachment of sectarianism.

O O O o o

The editors of this paper have convictions of their own, strongand deep on many matters of faith. But these convictions whateverthey be are not the standard of doctrine of this paper. The word ofGod is the standard and to it the convictions of the editors are themselves subject. And it may be well to say here that, while it wouldnot be expedient to open the paper to every disputant and to everyscribe who may differ with anything that may have appeared in it, andto make a public forum of its columns (which would be very unprofitable for its readers)—yet on any considerable matter of difference, weexpect to call upon some of the best and ablest brethren who may holdan opposing view to set forth that view. Thus we hope to providethat the views and convictions of the editors shall not dominate theteachings of this magazine, but that the way shall always be open forfriendly comparison of differences, and mutual helpfulness in searchingout the truth. We shall have discussions, but never strifes.

o o o o o

As for the rest, the magazine must speak for itself. May God blessit, and help us to make it such that his blessing can justly rest upon it.* * * * *

ARTICLES BY FORMER EDITORS:

"Restoration a Must"-for Individuals and Churches

Stanford Chambers, 1960

On what scriptural grounds do you say that "restoration is a must"? Is therestoration of the externals important? Just when is "restoration" achieved?

Most of the seven letters to the churches of Asia were for theirrestoration. Ephesus must remember whence she had fallen, mustrepent and do the first works and get back to her first love, else hercandlestick would be removed out of it place. Where little hope isexpressed in the church's repentance and restoration to the originalground (as in the case of Laodicea), the individuals could hear andheed, nevertheless. The Galatian epistle is for the purpose of restoration of the churches of Galatia (and any like them) to the foundation on which they had been planted—"My little children, of whomI am in travail again until Christ be formed in you."

When a train is off the track, it needs to get back, that is, it12

needs to be restored. If a traveler in the forest gets off the path, hemust get back to the point of departure. That churches can get offthe track is plainly evidenced by what we have mentined above.The various re ligious bodies of today are going in different directions.They teach contradictory doctrines. Many have lost their first love,if they ever had first love to lose. Many have made shipwreck of thefaith and are now denying "the Master who bought them." Apostatechurches of all the large denominations have gained control and nowmanipulate thuir synods, their conferences, their missionary societies,their theological institutions and hold most of the property. Everydenomination in Christendom is affected and divided by modernism.It would not be time well spent in our trying to restore the manyapostate churches, but there are individuals who are subject to thecall "Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord."There is restoration for the individual. "Ye that are spiritual restoresuch ... in the spirit of meekness" (Gal. 6:1).

"The law of Jehovah is perfect, restoring the soul." "The law ofthe Spirit of life in Christ Jesus" makes one "free from the law ofsin and death." Let it be relied on. When is the restoration of theindividual perfected? As long as one is in the fleshly body, there willalways be more restoring to be done. But he is well on the way toits perfecting if he is "strengthened with power through his Spiritin the inner man, that Christ may dwell in" his heart by faith, andhe is "rooted and grounded in love."

When is a church restored? When its is made up of restoredindividuals. Enlightened by the word they can be reported as continuing "stea Ifastly in the apostles' teaching and fellowship, in thebreaking of bread and the prayers." Externals there? But let theseactivities of life and service and worship be in the Spirit and intruth, as restoration requires, and the externals are not only notfound any hindrance but, indeed, very important. As long as we arephysical as we are, there is necessity of physical expression. Coming"together on the first day of the week to break bread" (Acts 20:7),was external, but the early Christians had regard for the Savior's request, "Do tiis in remembrance of me."

A good picture needs a frame to hold and protect it. The pictureis not for the frame, but the frame for the picture. The frame mightbe made so beautiful and attractive that is draws attention awayfrom the picture and robs it of the due appreciation. Some restoration is required there. Nevertheless, don't count the frame of noconsequence, Rob the picture of its frame and you will soon haveno picture. Our Lord designed a few externals and we are not tocount ourselves so well advanced as not to need them, so wise as todeclare them unnecessary. One does not commend his own spirituality by discounting the ordinances our Lord put down in His will.What have our Quaker Friends demonstated here?

Individuals yielding to divine restorative measures, who heed thecall to come out of sin and the world, also those who heed the callto come out of this Babylon (which Christendom verily is) are dueto receive jhe spiritual treatment prescribed in the second part ofthe Great Commission (Matt. 28:20). They need shepherding; they

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need fellowship; they need the opportunity afforded them of observingwhat the Savior has commanded. Let it not be denied them; let themnot suffer neglect in these matters. This observing requires the'assembling of ourselves together." The assembly is in the Lord'sown providing, and is not to be forsaken (Heb. 10:25). "Wheretwo or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in themidst of them." There you have a church—not in a denominationalsense. It is not attached. It is under no ecclesiasticism. It owes noallegiance to any hierarchy, no prelate, universal bishop, is underno earthly headquarters. The headquarters of the church of theLord is in heaven, where the Head is. It is a "habitation of Godin the Spirit" (Eph. 2:22). The free, autonomous congregation isthe hope of the simple Christian in the midst of a hostile world, thehope of successful restoration ministry.

* * * * *

Tolerance, Intolerance, andOther ChristiansStanford Chambers, 1961

Is not one great hindrance in the way of undenominational and unsectarianreligion today the spirit of intolerance exercised by so many?

Intolerance, bigotry, prejudice, love of party: these are fruitsof the flesh, products of "the spirit that now worketh in the sons ofdisobedience." The servant of the Lord is not to be possessed thereby.There is a nobler motivation for him. "In the spirit of meeknesscorrecting them that oppose themselves" is his fine. The partisanspirit is of the flesh, and to pursue it is in the last analysis selfishness;it is a Pharisaical attempt to show superiority over others and theirparty. This should be prayerfully avoided—with the Spirit helping us.

But how easy it is to be intolerant toward the intolerant! Someseem to find it easier to be tolerant toward error and wrong practicethan to be tolerant toward those opposing the samel In the churchat Ephesus was a marked intolerance which the Lord Jesus commended. "Thou canst not bear evil men." Again, "Thou hatest the deedsof the Nicolatians, which I also hate." He that had the sharp two-edged sword censured Pergamum because they tolerated some holdingthe doctrine of Balaam and some holding the doctrine of the Nico-laitans. He that "hath his eyes like a flame of fire" held it againstThyatira that they tolerated the woman Jezebel in her false teachingand practice, together with her followers there. Pergamum andThyatira could have avoided this censure from Him whom theycalled Lord had they, exercised the intolerence of evil which Hecommends at Ephesus.

If we can strike the righteous balance between bigotry andpartisan prejudice on the one hand and the "sweet-spiritedness" thatsee tolerableness in everything but intolerance, happy are we. Onlythe Spirit of our Lord can make us equal to this. May He be mercifulto us all.

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But the Cljristian's attitude toward God's people within denominationalfolds?

This question assumes that denominational folds shelter peopleof God. It should not be denied or disregarded. Many there arewithin denom national walls who are not void of love for the Lordand for His cause, who "bear about in" their bodies "the marks ofthe Lord Jesus." Denominations with all their subdivisions and withall their liberalism compose Christendom, the Babylon of prophecy.Comes the char call from heaven, "Come forth, my people, out ofher" (Rev. 18 4). Laodicean apostate Christendom, a veritable Babelof confusion, is spued out (even as Christ is barred out) and herjudgment is pronounced. But the call unmistakably means that Godhas a peopleAnd any who

in Babylon; it would not make sense if it were not so.are suoject to this call to "my people," are my brethren,

members of ihe one family, members of the body or church of theLord Jesus Christ—of "the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven" (Heb. 12:23). My brother belongsto me, for wo "are severally members one of another." "In (or by)one Spirit were we all baptized into one body." I need my brother,my brother n ?eds me. I cannot assume the attitude "I have no need ofthee." He his not by a wrong profession or affiliation made himself"not of the be dy."

How can I enjoy fellowship with any one of these "my people"?An ecclesiastical curtain hangs between. He is on the denominationalside of the cirtain. He may not recognize me; I may not have beenable to see lim to recognize him. There is the pity of itl But ifand when I do discover one to whom I am related through the oneLord and Sivior, what is to be my conduct toward such? Whocan lay down any hard and fast rule? No two cases are alike. Ifhe is not wedded to the name and party of his affiliation (and manyhave been discovered like that), fellowship can soon be exercised,a fellowship that can grow and increase, love finding the way andimpelling th ;reto. My fellowship with such a one, walking togetherwith him so far as we are agreed as to direction, is not fellowshipwith the paity of his affiliation. He is in a good way to enter into afreedom in the truth of our "one Lord," and I am in a good wayto help him to the attaining of the freedom. I should, by the Spirit'senabling, help him to heed the call to come out and be separate fromBabylon's confusion.

On the other hand, however, he may be so wedded to his partythat he is in no attitude to heed the call. That is a different matter,altogether. He has not an ear to hear. I am trying to pull him out,and he ma) be trying just as hard to pull me in. "Looking to thyself, lest thou also be tempted," there is good counsel for me.

Again, he may be a very brotherly sort of brother who comes asa well-known representative of his party, and my "walking with him"may indicat 3 to others that I recognize his party. I, having knowledge,am seen eating meat in the idol's temple, and those not in the knoware emboldened to eat with regard to the idol, supposing that I do thesame. In my trying to be so good and courteous to the one, I may dogreat injury to the many. Many are the instances, too, where the

15

amiable, winsome one has turned out to be a real propagandist of hisdenomination.

Love does not find a way to exercise itself in such a way as to disregard the enjoined separation and compromise true freedom in Christby being over sweet and agreeable. 2 Cor. 6:14ff. does not allow theobedient Christian to be just a "Yes man," much less a "Yes, yes man."

* * * *

Four Indisputable ThingsR. H. Boll

In a day of confusion and uncertainty, when many old landmarksseem to have vanished, and dear old cherished beliefs are tottering;when the questions are many and satisfying answers few, it is goodto find some things that are undeniably true upon which, as on foundation stones, we can safely build. Four such indisputable things I wishto point out.

I. The first is that there is no book like the Bible. That the Biblestands among books in a class by itself, that it is different from allother books in the world, that it is the most remarkable and wonderfulbook in the world, is really not open to dispute. From any standpointthe Bible is a wonder.

1. Take it as to its age—where else can authentic writings of suchage be found? Its newest portions are near 2000 years old; its oldestpart 3500 years. "Time," said a wise man, "is a terrible sifter of books.Most books die in the year in which they are born. If a volumesurvives five or ten years it is above the ordinary. If it continues tohold interest for 50 or 100 years it has some special worth. If it is preserved even longer there must be some sort of pure gold in it." Judgedby that standard, the Bible stands pre-eminent and commends itsworth and value by the mere fact of its great age and its power tohold its own in the test of time.

2. There are indeed other ancient writings with us, some whichhave been preserved for their merit and excellence — as for examplephilosophical works of Greece, the poems of Homer, or the writingsof ancient Latin poets and authors. But who has seen them outsidethe schoolroom and the libraries? The Bible, however, is not a bookof mere antiquarian or scholarly interest. Though old, it is not outworn and dead. It is a living book. It is not found by isolated copiesin the great graveyards of ancient lore, or alone on the dusty shelves of

16

the musty halls of learning, but by numberless copies in the countlesshomes of the common people. No modern book, no other bookwhatever, can compare with it as to circulation. The sum total soldof a hundred of the "best-sellers" taken together does not anything likeequal the number of copies of the Bible that are sold every year.The great printing presses working day and night, year in, year out,cannot produce enough Bibles: the demand is always greater than thesupply. It has been translated into more languages than any otherbook. In an editorial headed "Five Million Chinese Bibles," one ofour editors marvelled at the fact that the Bible Society had receivedan order for five million Chinese Bibles that year. "What do theChinese want with a book," he asked, "most of which consists of theaffairs and history of an obscure little nation that lived long ago in asmall strip of land at the back side of the Mediterranean? Is it for itsinteresting ard pure narrative prose, or is it for its beautiful poetry,or for the marvellous eloquence found in portions here and there, orfor its high ethics that men are interested in it? But there are manyother volumes of fine prose, of great poetry, or fervid eloquence, oflofty morals, or profound wisdom, which have hardly produced aripple in comparison with the tremendous waves of interest this bookhas created.' His final conclusion was that the Bible containedsomething over and above all common excellence—something thatgrips the he* it of mankind universally. What is that thing?

3. Again the sage of this world who told us how time so terriblysifts the boo cs of men, spoke of the writings of Plato— how that, inhis judgment, there were never more than a dozen people living at anyone time wlo could fully understand and appreciate Plato; and forthe sake of the dozen persons (he said) those writings have beentenderly handed down through the centuries. "Tenderly handeddown!" Tf at is said of ancient Plato's writings. But with the Bibleit was far otherwise. No other book has ever outweathered suchstorms of opposition, malice, and hatred. Through long periods,kings and rulers, civil and ecclesiastical authorities joined their effortsto destroy this book from the earth; and even onto this day in someparts of the world has the ruthless power of despotism sought to extirpate this Be ok. "Fifth-colummsts" also boring from within, have allalong tried to undermine the divine authority and message, havedenied it, re riled it, ridiculed it. Critics have "unmasked" it, and shotit full of hobs. For all that the old Book is marching on triumphantly,sublimely indifferent to all hostility, and in greater force than everbefore. Thu very hatred and opposition it has stirred up testifies to itsgreatness and importance. Was there ever any other book like that?

4. Nor is that all. It is fairly demonstrable from historic fact andrecord that this book was about 1600 years in-the-making. Differentmen of different degrees of culture and different stations of life—kings,princes, shspherds, fishermen—men writing in different languages(Hebrew; Aramaic; Greek) at widely separated times and places,have independently contributed to this collection of writings whichmake up the Bible. And yet the Book, though it deals with manygreat and difficult matters on which men always among themselvesdisagree, is( a harmonious whole. From the first chapter of Genesis to

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the last of Revelation, throughout all its pages one increasing purposeruns. What has its beginning in the first book of the Bible finds itsglorious consummation in the last. Some years ago Dr. HowardKelly of Baltimore (a scientist of high standing, both in his ownchosen line of gynecology, and in other departments of science—afellow of all the greater scientific fraternities and societies of theworld) addressed a meeting of ministers in this city. Among otherthings he explained the use of a button he carried on the lapel of hiscoat—a brass button with a great question mark on it. "This," hesaid, "opens the way for serious conversation. People ask me whatthe button means. 'That stands for the great question,' I tell them.'And what is the great question?' they always ask. *What shall itprofit a man if he should gain the whole world and lose his own soul?'And then I talk to them about God and Christ, about life and death,about sin and judgment, about forgiveness and salvation. 'But Dr.Kelly,' some of my scientific friends will say, you don't mean to saythat you believe in the Bible?' 'I certainly do.' 'But—do you believein miracles? Do you believe that Joshua made the sun stand stilland that the whale swallowed Jonah?' 'Yes,' I answer them:'when dealing with Almighty God all things are oossible. But thereis one miracle I don't believe.' 'And what is that? they ask. "I don'tbelieve that this old book came into existence of itself.'" And then hetells them the story of the Book, as strange as any miracle. It is trulya wonderful book, and it has proved its worth and power in its fruitthroughout the centuries. A tourist armed with his guide-book wentup to the curator of the famous Tribuna of the Ufizzi gallery at Florence, Italy, and said, "Are these your master pieces?—I certainly don'tsee much in them myself." "Sir," said the curator, "these picturesare not on trial: it is the visitors who are on trial." Neither is theold Book on trial; but it tries and tests and judges every soul towhich its message comes. There is no book like the Bible.

II. The second indisputable fact is that there is no God like theGod of the Bible. That is to say that in all the lore and all the religionsof mankind there is no God who could hold a candle to the God of theBible. Some may think that this can be disputed. Very well: letthem bring out their idols of gold or silver or wood and stone; or themore modern gods that have sprung out of man's fancy or philosophy-strip them of all the features that have been borrowed and plagiarizedfrom the Bible—and see what you have left. The sublime teachingsconcerning our God in such passages as Isaiah 40, Jeremiah 10, Amos 4,Nahum 1, Micah 7; the grand display of His character and ways in Hisdealings with Israel in the Old Testament; His wonderful love andholiness set forth in His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who is^'theeffulgence of His glory, the express image of His substance," areutterly beyond comparison; and none of the gods fabricated by men'shands and minds can be mentioned alongside of the God of the Bible.

III. The third indisputable fact is that there is no Savior hutJesus. My first point was that there is no book like the Bible; thesecond that there is no God like the God of the Bible. But now I amnot saying that there is no Savior like Jesus— for that might implythat there are other saviors around—what I am saying is that there is

18

no other Saviolr but Jesus. There is no competition here. There arenone who even so much as pretend to be saviors. All your upliftersand reformers and educators and culturists must have something tobegin on. Only Jesus bids me come "just as I am, without one plea,"and promises that him who cometh He will in no wise cast out.A Chinese strdent is credited with the following parable, whichsums up the matter abmirably: A traveler in the night lost his way andfell over a precipice, and lay mortally injured and broken at thebottom. Along came Gautama Buddha—a kindly, sympathetic soul,and said to him, "Son, it grieves me to see you in this miserable state.But all I can tell you is that you must gather yourself together andclimb up out of this pit; then take the path that leads to yonder bluehills far away and ascend them step by step. When you have reachedthe highest crest you will pass in Nirvana, where never pain shalltrouble you sgain nor fears molest. Behold, that is the way of theKarma. Goodbye." Next came Confucius. He is a dry and doursort. "Ah," he said, "I see what has happened to you. Did I notwarn you of this? If you had followed my teaching you would notbe where yoii are. Well, son, you have made your bed, and now youmust lie onthe wreck.

it. Good bye." —Then came Mohammed and viewedToo bad, too bad," he said, "but it could not be helped:

it had to be so. That is Kismet (which means Fate). Good bye." —Atlast came the Lord Jesus Christ, and saw the wretched, helpless victim.He tenderly lifted him and healed his wounds and bade him standupright; then led him by the hand and set his feet upon firm groundand lovingly said, "Come follow me." None other can do that, but Hecan and does, and a myriad of witnesses do testify to the fact.

IV. Finally, the fourth absolutely indisputable fact is that thereis no life so £ pod and pure and true as that which is lived in conformitywith that Book and the will of this God, and the salvation of thisSavior. This needs no argument. Some may try to deny this on theground of the faults and sins of some professing Christians. But weare not speaking of that. The fact remains that in all the world thenoblest, pur ;st, most unselfish and self-sacrificing life is that which islived in closest conformity to the old Book and its God and its Savior.When Henr r M. Stanley found David Livingstone in Ujiji, and abodewith him about a month, his soul was deeply impressed with thegreatness of the man. "Here is a man," he wrote afterwards, "who ismanifestly sustained as well as guided by influences from heaven.The Holy Spirit dwells in him. God speaks through him. Theheroism, the nobility, the pure and stainless enthusiasm at the root ofhis life, come, beyond question, from Christ. There must therefore bea Christ, and it is worth while to have such a Helper and Redeemeras this Chri st undoubtedly is, as He here reveals Himself in this wonderful disciple." And like things can be said of many who have committed themselves to this Christ, the Christ of the Bible, Jesus the Sonof God.

On th^se four indisputable facts you can safely build your houseof hope, my friend; and by these four sign-posts you can find yourway through all the labyrinth of tangled paths, back to God andheaven an<jfhome.

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UNFULFILLED PROPHECYE. L. Jorgenson, 1958

Whether or not we shall preach the unfulfilled prophecies isnot a matter for us to decide. God Himself decided that long ago.It is not even left for us to decide whether we may do so or not, forwe must do so or disobey God. To every preacher, Paul in the Scriptures by the Spirit has said, "Preach the Word"; and he has himselfset us the example of declaring "the whole counsel of God." Jesusalso has said that "Man shall not live by bread alone but by everyword that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." So then the preaching of unfulfilled prophecy comes under the general direction, "Preachthe Word." Of course, we have no authority to speculate in thisrealm any more than in any other department of the Word; but we dohave the right to elucidate, illustrate, and enforce in our own language(that is to "preach," not merely to quote) the sense of the written Wordin this department precisely as we do in other fields of scripture.

Not only does the preaching of prophecy come under the generaldirection to preach the Word, but it comes under specific instructionsalso—as if God had foreseen the need of calling particular attentionto this duty. Thus we read, "We have the word of prophecy mademore sure; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed as unto a lampshining in a dark place" (2 Pet. 1:19). And again, "Ye should remember the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets"—we should not only know them but we should remember them (2 Pet.3:2). Other scriptures on this line would be those for instance, inwhich the book of Revelation is urged upon our attention (1:3; 22:16).It is a motto among some people that we should do whatever Godcommands if for no other reason than because He commands it. Ifthen we could see no underlying reason or purpose in teaching thispart of the Word, no good result to be obtained by so doing it wouldbehoove us to do it faithfully.

But the case is not so. There are reasons, revealed reasons;there are purposes and uses good and sufficient:

1. One purpose of unfulfilled prophecy is to establish, strengthenand confirm faith, whenever the thing predicted comes to pass. "Ihave told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, yemay believe." John 14:29 (cp. John 2:19-22; 13:19; 16:4). The onlyrequirements here are that we must know the prophecy was utteredbefore the event is predicted (that is, that it is truly prophecy andnot history), and that it shall be fulfilled in our lifetime. On the sameprinciple these predictions which were both uttered and fulfilledbefore our time, such as the destruction of Ninevah, and the dis-

20

persion of the Jews, form a mighty argument for the inspiration ofthe scriptures and go a long way toward establishing faith. Thoseuttered before, but fulfilled in our time, are however the most potentof all in this c ass; for of them we are sure that they are not historybut truly propl ecy; and these impress us most powerfully because theycome to pass under our own observation. But let it not be overlookedthat such predictions must be known and grasped before in order tohave their full (:ffect. The Savior clearly contemplated that His disciplesshould understand beforehand in the passages cited under this head.

2. Another use and purpose of unfulfilled prophecy, and a veryconsiderable o le too, is that by it we may warn and stir and move mento godly living on the strength of what it predicts. The third chapter ofsecond Peter illustrates this fully. That chapter might well be called,"The appeal to a godly life on the ground of unfulfilled prophecy."

Peter's purpose is to remind believers of the words spoken bythe prophets and the commandment of the Lord Jesus. The particular thing of which he would remind them is the promise of the Lord'scoming with its related events. He stops to meet the skeptic's sneer,"Everything u going on as it always did; why look for His coming?"answering it jy reminding them that so it was also in Noah's day.And then suddenly came the end of the world-the end of that world,by water. The same word which brought water then, will bring firein its time. Then he takes up the believers' difficulty— "why is theLord so long in coming?" It may seem long to us, it is not long withthe Lord; with him a thousand years is as twenty-four hours to us.Then mark the appeal of verses 11, 14, and 17: "Seeing that thesethings are thus all to be dissolved;" "Wherefore seeing that ye lookfor these things;" "Ye, therefore, beloved, knowing these things beforehand, — 'What manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy living."

Every modern appeal must likewise be based on some form ofunfulfilled prophecy. You cannot get ten steps without it. Everybody preaches it. Whenever we appeal to heaven, to glory, andreward; wherever we threaten with hell and the wrath to come; yea,whenever we say that Jesus is coming, or make any statement concerning things to come, we make use of unfulfilled prophecy. Everybook in the Bible contains some of it, and most of them abound in it.Indeed very few chapters are without it; and everybody, everybodypreaches it-oven those who preach against preaching it. Who thencan consistently oppose using unfulfilled prophecy? No one canmove any one to do anything without motive, and it is hardly too muchto say that ail motivating power, at least of that kind that appeals tothe alien, lies in unfulfilled prophecy. I do not mean in the propheticbooks alone but in the predictions scattered throughout the entireBible; whether they be promises of reward for well-doing or threatsof punishment for evil-doing.

We hear much talk nowadays about preaching the essentials andleaving other things alone-at least if they cause disturbance (of courseit is a simple matter for men to see to it that they do cause disturbanceif they choosje to do so); but have the brethren quite overlooked thefact that whatever motive is required to lead a man to take the necessary steps is also essential to his salvation? We are agreed that the

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essential steps are three or four? Very well then, let us agree thatwhatever hope, warning or threat is necessary to make a man takethose steps is also necessary to his salvation. No one has reallypreached "the essentials" until he has preached whatever it takesto move men (those who can be moved) to take the essential steps.This point is of great importance and is being generally overlooked.Whenever our brethren begin really to ponder it, all talk about preaching the essentials and leaving unfulfilled prophecy alone will cease.Then we will be down to rock bottom in all our discussions; then thequestion will be stripped so we can see it; then, instead of a merecharge that Brother So-and-So is preaching things in the realm of unfulfilled prophecy which, though they may be true, are disturbing thechurches, we shall have what may be really a very proper charge,namely, that So-and-So is preaching things in the realm of unfulfilledprophecy which are not true. And this can then be taken up for investigation in brotherly fashion.

3. A third use and purpose of unfulfilled prophecy is to put alamp into the believer's hand so that he may not stumble. The firstverse of the sixteenth chapter of John is exceedingly significant."These things have I spoken unto you that ye should not be caused tostumble." Glance over the "these things" which the Savior hadspoken unto the eleven. They are predictions for the most part-predictions of coming persecution, of the coming Comforter, of thewitness the eleven were to bear. Read on into chapter sixteen;see how He speaks to them of things whose "hours" had not yetcome (1-4), unfulfilled prophecy! That is, unfulfilled at that time.And spoken for the express purpose that the disciples should notstumble. A knowledge of prophecy then keeps disciples from stumbling! That is a rather "practical" effect, is it not? Let us connect thispassage with another one: "We have the word of prophecy mademore sure; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed as unto a lampshining in a dark place" (2 Pet. 1:19). It ever a pilgrim on a strangeroad on a starless night needed a lantern, the Christian needs a lampfor this trip that he has never made before; a lamp that̂ shines aheadtoo ahead where the road lies. The "word of prophecy is that lamp.Not a lamp like the twelfth of Romans telling him what to do; buta searchlight that shines ahead pointing out in advance such tilingsin the future over which he would be likely to stumble without thatlight Hosts of people are stumbling now for the lack of this lamp.As a case in point, read this letter which appeared in The SundaySchool Times during our great world war:

"I want to ask you about this war. It has completely upset my faith andconfidence in God's lovingkindness and tender mercy. I have given up mySunday school class after a thirty-five years' tenure- I WU had no'message forthe men.... I was seventy four years old on the 19th of this month. I am notsorry that I am near the end of life. The woes of this world are too terribleto bear. I never had anything to affect me as this war has done.

Here is a man who. stumbled for no other reason so far as hisletter reveals than that he was without the light of unfulfilled prophecy Who shall say that if this man had known the revealed trutnconcerning the last days beforehand, so far from stumbling on accountof the war, he would actually have waxed stronger m faith as he

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saw the very things coming to pass which God had centuries agopredicted. But he had evidently been fed by the "Peace, peace, wherethere is no peace" prophets until he believed the Gospel would gradually sweep in every man and nation, before the Savior's coming,and this was God's purpose in this age, and that the church militantwas about to become also the church triumphant in the earth. Andnow with the, near collapse of civilization goes the collapse of theold man s faith.

"He (the Spirit) shall declare unto you the things that are to come." John 16:13'Behold, I have told you beforehand." Matthew 24:25

ASHAMED OF JESUSJ. R. Clark, 1961

A Hindu, who came to the United States, asked his hostess atdinner, "What do you think of Jesus?" She answered, "We do nottalk of such things at the dinner table." Later he approached abusiness man in his office in the presence of others, and asked, "Whatdo you think of Jesus?" The business man said in a low voice, "Comeout on the balcony and we'll talk about Him." Said the Hindu,"America is the only nation that I have found in all of my travels whois ashamed of its God!"

The average Christian is not ashamed to go to church, but intheir day by day contacts they hesitate to line up with Jesus. A business man invited a devout Christian to a party. The Christian knewthat there; would be drinking and rough talk. He said simply, "Yes,I'll come if you permit me to bring a friend." "Yes, sure, bring himalong. There is always room for one more—by the way, who is thefriend?" Said the Christian, "The Lord Jesus Christ." The businessman was! taken off guard. He hesitated a moment and then ventured, "I think your Friend would not enjoy our party."

My brother, are you ashamed of Jesus? Perhaps not at church,but at school, at your office, at social gatherings, in this work-a-dayworld, are you ashamed of Him?

I. WHY ARE CHRISTIANS ASHAMED OF JESUS?Brother Wm. J. Campbell of Iowa used to say, "The reason

Christians are ashamed of their religion is because they have such ameager amount." One who has only a little money might be ashamedof that little. He who has a limited amount of clothing, and wornout at that, might be embarrassed. A person who gives little in theoffering! plate may try to hide it. A man with a limited educationthrown among educated men might be ashamed. So it is with you and

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Christ often. If He dwells in your heart in a full, complete way, youwill be glad to own Him and to speak out for Him. But if you areashamed of Him, likely your Christian experience is meager andl a c k i n g . . 7 _ _ .

Others are ashamed of Jesus because of what people think. Welive among people whose portion is in this life. It is difficult to beother-worldly in a worldly environment. The flesh does not relishbeing ridiculed, laughed at, persecuted. If I am an all-out Christian,my friends may call me a fanatic or poke fun at me. I want to beone of them-a hale fellow well met. In that case I am ashamed ofmy Lord. A woman in a certain community became interested in atent meeting. She passed by in the evenings with her basket, goingto market, and paused to listen. But she did not wish her neighborsto know that she was interested in the gospel. However, she was sofascinated that she finally sat in the back of the tent. But alwaysshe brought her basket, so her neighbors would think that she wasgoing to market. One night the pull of the gospel was so great thatshe went forward to accept Christ as her savior. That night theminister whispered to her, "Tomorrow night you will not need tobring your basket."

The basic reason for men's being ashamed of Jesus is becauseof the stigma connected with the gospel. Paul says in 2 Tim. 1:8,"Be not ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisonenbut suffer hardship with the gospel according to the power of God.In verse 12 he says, "For which cause I suffer all of these things: yetI am not ashamed;..." And in verse 16 he adds, "Onesiphorus...was not ashamed of my chain." The Lord said, "For whosoever shallbe ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of man also shall be ashamed of him, when he comethin the glory of his Father with the holy angels."

At the heart of Christianity is a cross and the cross stands forcrime and disgrace and execution! Today the cross has been glorifiedin some quarters: the nails pulled out and the blood washed off. Wesee it on church spires and as ornaments on the lapel of the coat. Butthe real meaning of the cross-suffering, crime, death, disgrace-cannotbe hid. If your favorite preacher were hauled off to jail you might beashamed to own him, even if he were innocent. The Apostle Paulhad plenty of jail experience. That is the reason that Onesiphorus andTimothy were commended for not being ashamed of him or exhortednot so to be. The Lord was arrested, tried, and finally crucified for blasphemy of which He was not guilty, and for crime He did not commit.

Two girls on a ship found a certain passenger repulsive becauseof ugly scars on his face and hands, until they learned he had obtainedthese marks while rescuing his beautiful daughter from a burningbuilding. To her those were beautiful hands. And to us the scarsof Jesus should be glory marks, tokens of the great love He has for us.Are you ashamed of His scars? Or are you ashamed of the Lord whorescued you from sin? The Stigma of the gospel means salvation.

II. WHY SHOULD WE NOT BE ASHAMED OF JESUS?The answer to this question is, first, because we know Him

and know the provision He is making for our future. "I am not24

ashamed; for I know him whom I have believed, and I am persuadedthat he is able to guard that which I have committed unto himagainst that day." We know Him experimentally as our Savior andLord. We know that He is the Son of God and that He is nowglorifed with the Father. Why should we be ashamed of so greata One? All else fades into insignificance as we contemplate Him!

As Paul, we are not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the powerof God unto salvation. Men are not ashamed of power: powerweapons, powerful cars, strong muscles. The gospel has uniquepower. The word translated power in Romans 1:16 in the Greekis "dunamis"! from which comes the word dynamite. The gospel isGod's dynamite, able to blast away sins, before which the Law ofMoses and any effort of man were and are powerless. Why shouldwe be ashamed of this gospel of power?

And we dare not be ashamed of Him down here, lest He beashamed of us up there when we go into the presence of the Father."For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words in thisadulterous and sinful generation, the Son of man also shall be ashamedof him, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels."

That will be a great day when the Lord Jesus takes you by thehand and leads you to the Father and says, "Father, here is a personwho was not ashamed of me on earth and I wish to confess him before thee as a faithful, consecrated Christian." O. O. Howard, afamous general, declared that the happiest moment of his life waswhen he was singled out in the presence of superiors and cited for amedal. So shall it be a happy moment with us when Jesus confesses us before the Father!

To believe that Jesus died for you is to believe that your life isall wrong! To repent is a humiliating experience, for it is taking sideswith God against yourself. To submit to baptism is to say that theold life is fit only to be buried out of sight and to give way to anew life. I My sinner friend, are you ashamed thus to own your Saviorand Lord? Will you say with the poet:

"I'm not ashamed to own my Lord,Nor to defend His cause;Maintain the honors of His word,The glory of His cross."

* * * * *

Know You're Saved?Gordon R. Linscott, 1979

Last night I talked to Jim, across 3000 miles of America. Wetalked about Gladys, his wife of 43 years. She left him one day re-

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cently, and he didn't appear to be terribly upset about it; in fact, hewas rather expecting it. For several weeks she had been droppinghints: "When I'm gone..." "You Know? Sometimes I just don't feelat home here." "I feel in my heart that it would be far better for meto leave and be with Christ." The last time we talked with her, itwas the same thing; she talked about death as casually as if she weregoing to the store. For six years she lived with cancer, and last year—it appeared to us who looked on—it was almost like a second honeymoon, for her and Jim.

"She wasn't afraid to die," Jim told us later. "She had been delivered from that old religion of works, where you never really knowhow you stand with the Lord." This turned the conversation to J.C.Bunn, a pioneer preacher in the northwestern states who had himselfgone to be with the Lord a few months earlier. Illinois was his homewhen he began preaching about the turn of the century, but thePacific Northwest was to become his "parish". I doubt that there isa single church of Christ in those states (Montana, Idaho, Washington,and Oregon) where Jesse Bunn has not preached. My first experience in "protracted meetings" was under the tutelage of brotherBunn at Billings, Montana, for four weeks in the summer of 1941.

"Do you remember the meetings brother Bunn held in Lewistonin 1952?" Jim asked me. "He started off by asking, How many of youknow that you are saved?' Not many hands went up. I don't knowwhat else he preached about those two weeks; I just remember hisasking, 'Do you know you're saved?'" I recall his pointing out thatthe word know is found some forty times in First John.WORKS AND FEAR

Several times during our conversation on the telephone, Jim expressed gratitude that he and Gladys had been set free from fear andsalvation by works. What was he talking about? Why did he linkfear to works?

The principle of salvation by works is explained very briefly inRomans 10:5: "For Moses writeth that the man that doeth the righteousness which is of the law shall live thereby." "Moses... saysthat the man who perfectly obeys the law shall find life in it"(Phillips). "Perfectly obeys" is the key thought. "For whosoevershall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is becomeguilty of all" (Jas. 2:10). The books of Romans and Galatians expandthis thought and develop the ramifications of it. Since there isnot even one person (apart from our blessed Lord) who has everbeen perfectly obedient to God, it follows that salvation by works isno salvation at all. The person who is earnestly trying to improvethe quality of his obedience has good reason to rear; the best he canproduce is "filthy rags" (Isa. 64:6). The obedience that saves isthe obedience of Jesus: "... through one act of righteousness the freegift came unto all men to justification of life. For as through theone man's (Adam) disobedience the many were made sinners, evenso through the obedience of one (Jesus) shall the many be maderighteous" (Rom. 5:18, 19). "One act of righteousness"—there's ourhope!! "My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness ... dressed in His righteousness alone, faultless to stand oe-

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fore the throneFear has Jits roots in uncertainty. That is why my obedience

brings me under bondage to fear. There is always a question: HaveI done enoughr Am I really well-pleasing in the sight of God? "Whenye shall have [done all the things that are commanded you, say, Weare unprofitable servants" (Lk. 17:10). To the extent that I dependon my own obedience to make me acceptable to God, to that extentwill I be unsure about my salvation—and to that extent will I be uneasy—fearful-labout standing face to face before God in judgment.GRACE AND CERTAINTY

Nowhere in the scriptures does God encourage doubt and fear.Quite to the contrary! Consider the purpose of the entire epistle of1 John: "These things have I written unto you, that ye may know thatye have eternal life..." (1 Jn. 5:13). The person who hopes tocontribute something toward his salvation cannot have that certainty.Self-dependence (even in the smallest measure) does not honor God;in fact, it casts doubt on the sufficiency of His provision. Therefore,God "credits righteousness apart from works' (Rom. 4:6 NIV).Works, whether good or bad, are not entered into our account.Rom. 3:16 explains why: "For this cause it is of faith, that it may beaccording to grace; to the end that the promise may be sure..."If my salvation is to be sure, it must be a free gift. If I do morethan stretch out a grateful hand to receive it, then grace is no moregrace (Rom. 11:16); it may be a bargain, but it is not a gift. Tothose whoj simply believe God (as exemplified by Abraham andDavid in Horn. 4), salvation is granted as a gift—no strings attached.At this point, about 79.4% of my readers hit the floor in protest: "Yes,but..." "What about...?" The most natural tendency in the worldis the urge to justify ourselves. My human nature is willing to concede that ("Salvation belongeth to Jehovah" provided that I "haveto do so:must quagoing toHe is goi

WhesalvationI enter"Arise,sacrificeCharleson theonce thance.10,15,1

Tfew yefrom £is whytion.to mee

©thing", be it howsoever insignificant. In some fashion Ify to be eligible to receive the gift. God says He is nothare His glory with another. Salvation is His work, andg to do it all—and receive all the credit—or not at all.the struggling is finally over and I am ready to leave my

totally in God's hands—based on His work at Calvary—to a marvelous awareness of peace with God (Rom. 5:1).

soul, arise! Shake off thy guilty fears! The bleedingi thy behalf appears..." In response to the truth ofesley's hymn, I see myself standing firm and unwavering

ace of God—fully relying on His unspeakable Gift. Wheree were fears and doubts, there is now abundance of assur-uch more ... much more ... much more ...!!" (Rom. 5:9,

is where Jim and Gladys found themselves during these pasts. This is why Jim could say that they had been deliveredr and the bondage of trying to produce good works. Thise reunion of the family was more celebration than lamenta-

know where she has gone, and they know the Way to goher.at about you? Do you know you're saved?

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Spiritual PlateausW. Robert Heid, 1982

"I press on toward the goal unto the prize of the high calling of God inChrist Jesus."- Phil. 3:14

The above utterance was from the apostle Paul, under the direction of the Holy Spirit, and was written for our admonition as wellas the Philippians. It has become a memory passage for many of us,but ought to be a pole star as we sail the trackless seas of life in Christ.May these lines renew in me a vision of that "prize," the high callingthat is ours. And may we, together, lift up our eyes to see how highthat goal looms above us.A PLACE OF REST

When we come up out of the waters of baptism, with the gloriouspresence of God's Holy Spirit within, there is a peace that passesunderstanding, with joy unspeakable and full of glory. This is that joy"that I know, when first I found the Lord." We bear that preciousName, and have a song in our hearts that proceeds to tell the wholeworld that we have been born anew. We pray and we read in a waythat is utterly new to us, and the light of God's word beams into everycorner of our being. We revel in the pleasures that are ours in ourLord Jesus and in the fellowship of His saints. His Spirit bears witnesswith our spirit, that we are Sons of God. This is it!

It is because this plateau of Spiritual life is indeed such a wonderful place, and so easily identifiable, that many are content to abide hereand serve and wait. They delight in the five (more or less) steps ofobedience that they have taken. They love to hear them preachedagain and again, since this is what all of the sinners need to hear, andbe repeatedly reminded that they are "Safe in the arms of Jesus."A PILGRIM ATTITUDE

One of my fondest memories of Brother Stanford Chambers was aconversation he held with me about the time we were to print his book"Conquering and to Conquer." He told me of a new concept of themeaning of 2 Thes. 2:7, which had just recently cleared in his thinking, and which he planned to include in the forthcoming book. Briefly,he no longer understood "that which restraineth" to be the Holy Spiritand to be taken out of the way; but by close examination of the wordsin the Greek, concluded that "He that held on" (in the heavenlyplaces) was no less than Satan himself, and when his grip in theheavenly places would be broken, then he would descend to the earthin fulness of his Satanic meanness, and then the "mystery of lawless-

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ness would no kmger be mystery, but a brutal and violent fact." I wasnot only thrilled and convinced by Bro. Chambers' exegesis of theverse referred to, but marvelled that one of his age and depth of insight, would yet be studying the word with so open a mind as tochange a position that he had long held, when he saw that new light.May his tribe Increase!THE OLD PATHS

I am aware that twice in the book of Jeremiah, God speaks of theold paths. Wje need to seek them out and to walk therein. But manytoday who think themselves to be in the old paths, are only in the current rut. Formality does not guarantee orthodoxy. Tradition doesnot prove anvthing of itself. If we look for some "old paths" in theBible, we might find: Abraham's path from Ur to Canaan. Abraham'spath up Mt. JMoriah. Eliezer of Damascus, seeking a wife for Isaac.Jacob seeking the birthright. Joseph forgiving his brothers. Moses'mother hidinfe the baby Moses. Moses abdicating the court of Egypt.These are old paths that really went places. And time would failus if we tried to mention even a percentage of the other old pathslisted in God's guide book, taken by Gideon, Samson, Jephthah, etc.

It is a sad day when Christians do not desire to press on to higherground, yen many today can see nothing ahead to challenge them.We need not slow down and crystalize because of our years. It wasCaleb, one Iwith Joshua of the two oldest men to enter the promisedland, who said "Give me this mountain" (where the giants were knownto dwell). J He certainly was not running down like an old clock. Thejoy of the Lord was his strength, and he was well able to conquer themountain that challenged him.

There I are spiritual plateaus that are higher than where we arenow encamped. This I mean:

There! are areas of liberality in giving, that few have any desire toexplore. We say that God's shovel is bigger than our shovel. Thenwhy do we shovel so sparingly?

There are sick and invalid people (saints or sinners) who wouldbe so haproy for any act of service. We have so long turned this overto the Government and other institutions, that we rarely feel thepleasure lof doing humble, menial service for Jesus.

Theije are arenas for prayer-warfare—where we can wield thewhole power of heaven against the host of wickedness. There arefears within and foes without. Satan trembles when he sees theweakest (Christian on his knees. But who likes to kneel? Prayer is aterritoryl that few explore. Although, what we have explored hasproven to be most glorious.

There is a higher place, the path to which reads "Be filled withthe Holy Spirit." It is a hill of glory, a veritable mount of transfiguration. Its pathway is Sanctification, a getting real close to theLord Jesus. But do we aspire to be on His right hand, or on Hisleft? A negative attitude concerning the Holy Spirit grieves Himand impoverishes us.

There is a high ground of brotherly love and appreciation, butthe path thereto is blocked by pride or bigotry. I can never see the

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good things in other people as long as my eyes are turned inward,upon myself. There is so much good and pleasant fellowship uponthat plateau, but many never get the faintest taste of it. How can youappreciate a brother or sister, if all you can observe is their shortcomings (as compared to your own merits)?

There is a mountain-place for communion with God Himself. Hehas made us that haply we might feel after Him and find Him, although He is not far from any one of us. We ought to help oneanother to climb this mountain, also.

VOICES from the FIELDSI r e n e A l l e n E a g l e R i v e r , A l a s k a D e c e m b e r 1 9 8 0

Our Christmas letter had already been prepared when it becameevident that Winston was having symptoms of a heart attack. EKG,treadmill test and angiogram were conducted and the cardiologistreported that hygrade narrowing of all three major heart arteries leftbypass surgery the "treatment of choice." On Nov. 26 at ProvidenceHospital, Anchorage, quadruple bypass surgery was performed andrecovery is progressing at the normal rate. An unrelated complication has developed for which remedial work will be done.

We're thankful for the Lord's sustaining power and for the manyprayers offered on our behalf. The men of the church are presentlyfilling in for Wiston. Plans for the future are being prayed about.

My dear friend, Mary Jane Wasson, from Illinois (whose familyworshipped with us during two military hitches) flew up to be withme during these stressful days. She has been a tremendous help andblessing and I thank God for sending her.

The month of November has broken all records for cold. MaryJane and I have dealt with unfamiliar maintenance jobs, frozen waterat the trailer, and have driven back and forth to the hospital every day.Our thermometer has been stuck on minus 20° for days( up to minus50° windchill).

We trust you will continue to intercede on our behalf during thesix to eight weeks of recovery ahead. Winston is doing well, thoughcomplete recovery will take time. [Editor's note: Dennis & Betty Allenare now visiting Eagle River for several weeks, till Winston recovers. 1

Myrna & Nemesio Auxtero Bohol, Philippines November 20/28, 1990An avid persecutor used to stone us from time to time in one of

our evangelistic outreaches. He violently ejected us and forbadeus to step on that ground any more. Later his twelve year old son felldown from a 60-foot coconut tree. The relatives came to us for help.He barely survived the three operations. His survival was a miracle.The boy now attends Bible studies. Please pray for the conversion ofhis parents. They were touched by the Christians' act of kindness.

In the churches there have been at least 12 baptisms in the past2 months. Two of our congregations are constructing very simple

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make-shift chapels. Nemesio and I recendy pioneered another congregation, the fl.4th one. Five families faithfully worship there eachweek. They were converted during the nine nights of evangelisticservices that were held [instead of nine nights of prayers for the dead,the widespread custom there. —editorj after the death of a churchleader's nephew.

There are so many people needing medical attention. Medicinesare too expensive. Please pray for healings.

Last Mihute Report: EMERGENCY! A typhoon struck withwinds at the speed of 150 mph. It was devastating. Damage tocrops and property amounted to millions of pesos. All the inter-islandboats between Cebu and Talibon sank. Some of our members' houseswere destroyed. Two families had to be housed temporarily in theparsonage. JA churchmember who is a fisherman was missing afterward. After 3 days he was found dead on an island. He has 5 kids.Our students struggle between the hardship of coming to BibleSchool and/ the burden of reconstructing their living quarters. Nogovernment aid reached our people. May hearts be touched by theneeds of these poor brethren. Pray for strength for people in thePhilippines.

James Ashley (personal letter) Solomon Islands November 28, 1990

I'd like to tell you about the trip we made last month to theevangelistical Bible college at OnePusu. I had volunteered to teacha translation-principles seminar there, because I felt that it was important for the future leaders of the church to realize the importanceof using a Bible that spoke the language of the people. The seminarwas from Oct. 24-26, and in our evaluation it went very well. Thewhole family went with me by canoe, and we are thankful to God thatthe seas /were relatively calm for the 50 mile trip. (It rained and wegot drenched, but the sea itself was calm and we had a good tripdespite the rain. We even had the thrill of seeing a large manta ray—about/7 feet wide—swimming toward us.)

I do not enjoy teaching and I do not feel that I can do a goodjob of it, but I think that this was an instance where I can say withthe apostle Paul that God is glorified in my weakness. Because ofHim the lectures went well, the material was appropriate, and thestudents learned. I really think that He guided me in what I presented! to them. There are 42 students and 9 staff members at thecollege (representing 24 languages from around the islands.) I hadseven/sessions with them teaching them (in Pijin) through lectures,skits, /and exercises. Afterwards several people commented that itwas tpe best seminar they had attended in their time at the college.If possible, they would like to have the seminar presented each year.So we think we met our goals in teaching there, and we want tothank you for praying for us because that is what made our workeffective.

(We've also had a number of other projects on our schedule, andsince coming back to Sa'a from OnePusu we have been able to finisha couple of them. David and I completed checking Matthew, and

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then Timo and I were able to finish checking Mark. A couple ofpeople have reviewed Matthew (we still need several more) and wehave begun translating Matthew back into English so that a consultantcan check our work. That is now scheduled for February, but theconsultant needs the back translation ahead of time so that he canexamine it in advance. One project I still have not been able tocomplete is a trip to Ulawa island, and that still weighs on my mind.I will need a couple of free days, calm seas, and a canoe and outboardwhich are in good repair. (There are two men who I can sometimeshire to take me places, but one man's engine broke down and theother one's canoe has cracked.)

Tomorrow we are leaving to go on our tour of the island. Wewill be stopping in ten different villages around Small Malaita, stayingovernight at each place, introducing ourselves, telling about our work,and answering questions. We want to encourage the people to bemore supportive of their translators David and Timo, and we hope thatpeople will become interested in using what we will eventuallypublish.

Jonathan & Rozalia Garrett Academia Los Pinares, Honduras Nov. 1990

We are nearing our 4th "month-versary," and we're finding thatmarried life stores many-many pleasant surprises. It is truly beautifulto share 2 lives together ...

Jonathan is still teaching 5th grade. Rozalia teaches 2 sectionsof 7th grade math, 12th grade Sociology and is the Guidance Counselor.

We strongly believe that God is using us at this school in thesecapacities. Please pray for us for strength, health, wisdom and protection. Our influence on these children and consequently on thisnation cannot be underestimated. We have a unique opportunity toreach the most affluent and influential people of Honduras throughtheir children, and possibly affect the future of this nation throughthe leaders that may come out of our school. Our school is well knownas the best in the nation for its academic and spiritual excellence.

What makes the difference in this school as opposed to others isthe commitment of teachers to academic excellence as well as toreaching these students for Christ. All of us from N. America aremissionaries, and dedicated to building relationships, not just teaching subjects. We run many clubs and after school activities that aregeared for the spiritual development of the students. These are inaddition to in-school chapels and Bible classes. All 500 students areinfluenced and hopefully changed through these efforts. An in-classexperience Rozalia is so excited about is her opportunity to teachMarriage and Family (in Sociology) from a Christian perspective. Inreading our own marriage books, we have learned how little trainingand education most people receive prior to marriage. This year'sclass is especially exciting as they are so responsive to Christian ideas.One girl recently shared with Rozalia that she recommitted her"whole" life to Jesus. We give God the glory for His power andmove in our students' lives! We have witnessed many spiritual vic-

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tories this year and we trust the Lord for more. Please pray for usall (teachers and workers) and the students....

Jonathan had a chance to be part of a day's fellowship with thechurch body when they rented a Pinares school bus and went to aplace where six new converts were baptized in the river. They had apicnic afterwards.

T e d & C r y s t a l H a r d i n H o n d u r a s D e c e m b e r 1 9 9 0

Inflation1 still plagues the economy. The lempira, two per dollarwhen we came, is now six per dollar. The government has allowed theprices to go up a little on the controlled items, but milk producersdon't even bring their milk to market because it costs more to transport it than they can sell it for. (Flash-government allowed milkprices to rise, so it's once more available.) Many voices are callingfor strikes, but we hope that won't happen. Ted is trying to get theboard to raise the salaries of our lowest-paid workers, but tuition wentup only 15%, and the whole operation is in the red at present, sothere's no money for raises. Pray for Ted as he works with the boardand administrative team to resolve this problem.

Several teachers have remarked that there seems to be more openness to the Lord this year in the high school. There is also a realopposition and oppression from the enemy. Please pray for thepenetration of the gospel into the hearts of these unsaved kids, andfor a clearer witness by the MK's and other Christians.

Crystal has just finished a two-week study of prophecy with hersixth-graders, emphasizing being close to the Lord and trying to tellothers about Him. They had been asking a lot of questions aboutnuclear war and the end of the world in view of happenings in theMiddle East. She will teach a little bit later on the differences between Catholics and Protestants, presenting that Protestants look tothe Bible for doctrine, whereas the Catholics accept church traditionas well. She needs wisdom to make the presentation is a sensitive,non-threatening way (most of her students are Catholics), laying thefoundation for a personal relationship with Christ whatever the religious background. Please pray for her.

Please pray for the following matters also:1. Future plans for the Hardins as their children approach college age.2. Tedls work with the Christian relief organizations such as WorldVision.) He is trying to develop a relationship in which our teachersand students receive valuable training in Christian outreach thruthird world development projects, and the organizations receive extrahands/when possible.3. Efforts to find scholarship money for children of leaders of theHonduran evangelical church, a growing but very poor segment ofthe society. Right now $15/month would provide a 1/3 scholarshipfor a (student. Anyone who would like to help may send inquires to:Evangelical Scholars, c/o Ted Hardin, Academia Los Pinares, Apart-ado 3250, Tegucigalpa, Honduras C.A.4. Efforts to transform the lives of some of the most influential peoplein Honduras. For example, we have the children of both the President and Vice-president of the country in our school.

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TELL CITY-LILLY DALE WORKSHOPAT THE LILLY DALE CHURCH OF CHRIST

Theme: "LIVING FOR JESUS ..."

FRIDAY —FEBRUARY 22, 1991

7:00 p.m. (E.S.T.) Singing and Welcome7:45 Living for Jesus Means a Commitment to Christ

Harry Coultas

SATURDAY — FEBRUARY 23, 1991

8:30 a.m. Prayer9 :15 Means a Commi tment to the Word Dav id Tapp

11:00 Means a Commitment to the Family Rick Murphy12:00 Lunch Served by the Ladies

1:30 Means a Commitment to the Church Nathan Burks2 :45 Means a Commi tment to Serv ice Ju l ius Hovan

SATURDAY — Nursery provided lor up through age three.

OVERNIGHT LODGING FOR FRIDAY NIGHT may be arranged by calling theMarshes at 812-836-2338 or Lincoln Trail Daystop Inn at 812-547-3474.